[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Thu May 31 05:00:29 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu May 31 2007

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Romans 1:28-2:9
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not
fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice
such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also
approve of those who practice them.
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for
in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge
practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against
those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such
things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
repentance?
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you
are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek
for glory, honor, and immortality;
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath,
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the
Jew first and also of the Greek;
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Matthew 5:27-32
27 You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not
commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has
already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from
you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members
perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members
perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31 Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him
give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason
except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever
marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Apostle Hermas of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Hermas was a bishop in Philippopolis, Thrace. He was
a Greek, but he spent some time in Rome. The holy Apostle Paul greets
him in the Epistle to the Romans (Rom 16:14). The Apostle Hermas
endured much grief from the pagans for preaching the Gospel, but he
died in peace.
According to Tradition, St Hermas is the author of THE SHEPHERD, an
instructive book based on revelations from angels.
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Martyr Hermias at Comana
Holy Martyr Hermias suffered for Christ in the city of Comana during
the persecution under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The
governor Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to arrest Christians, urged
the saint to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising him honors
and mercy from the emperor.
The old soldier bravely confessed his faith in Christ. After long
exhortation, the governor gave orders to torture the saint. They beat
him on the face so that the skin peeled from his face, and they threw
him into a red-hot oven. When the oven was opened after three days,
the martyr Hermias emerged from it unharmed.
The governor Sebastian ordered the sorcerer Marus to poison St Hermias
with a potion. The poisonous drink did the saint no harm. A second
goblet with even stronger poison also failed to kill the saint. The
sorcerer believed in Christ the Savior, and was immediately beheaded.
St Marus was baptized in his own blood, and received a martyr's crown.
St Hermias was subjected to even more terrible tortures. They raked
his body with sharp instruments, threw him in boiling oil, and gouged
out his eyes, but he gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they
suspended the martyr head downward. For three days he hung in this
position.
People sent by the governor to verify his death found him alive.
Struck by the miracle, they were blinded with fright and began to call
out to the saint to help them. The holy martyr ordered the blind to
approach him, and healed them in the Name of Jesus Christ.
In anger the governor ordered the skin flayed from the saint's body,
but he remained alive. Then the crazed Sebastian beheaded him with his
own sword. Christians secretly buried the body of the martyr Hermias,
whose relics bestowed numerous healings.
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Martyr Philosophus at Alexandria
Holy Martyr Philosophus suffered for Christ in Alexandria during the
persecution by the emperor Decius (249-251). They urged the youth to
deny Christ, but he remained steadfast.
After suffering various tortures, he was placed on a soft bed, bound
hand and foot, and a harlot was put in the room with him to tempt him
to sin. In order not to yield to sin, the saint bit off his tongue and
spit it in the harlot's face. She was so horrified that she fled from
him. The executioners, seeing the martyr's bravery and fearlessness,
beheaded the saint with a sword.
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New Martyr Philosophus of St Petersburg
No information available at this time.
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